Romania's Clunkers Program Raised By 60,000 Vouchers

05.26.2011 By Gavrila Oana

Romania’s Government will supplement the budget for the country’s cash for clunkers program by 60,000 scrapping vouchers, Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely said Wednesday, at the end of the Cabinet meeting.

The minister said the budget hike will likely be operated next week.

He said current data indicates 120,000-140,000 old cars will be scrapped this year through the program.

This year's program started in the second half of March and had an initial budget of 228 million lei (about EUR55 million). The Government said at that time it would supplement the budget if demand for scrapping vouchers increased.

Last year, Romanians scrapped 190,000 old cars and bought 63,000 new ones through the clunkers program, of which 26,000 were locally made cars.